Pro online dating articles

People are often ashamed to come forward and admit that they’ve been duped.

I worked up the nerve to write him and was thrilled when he replied, saying he was flattered to receive my email. Many of the profiles on dating sites are scams, fake profiles people put up as a tool to get to know people they then trick into giving them money.

Elizabeth Bernstein explains how the scams operate, and a few people's stories of being tricked.

If you fall into this category, be especially wary of people that you meet through dating websites.

Online dating can be difficult for women The AARP also says that seniors are a common target of these scams.

Again, both men and women can and have fallen victim to online dating scammers, but women tend to be targeted more aggressively.

Interestingly, the AARP says that men fall victim to these scams more often, but that women are more likely to report the scam.

The profiles of online dating scammers can exhibit some clear signs that something is off—you just need to know what to look for.

Most scammers choose victims that are older than they are, for example, so if someone who is significantly younger than you says that they’re interested, it could be cause for concern.

It’s possible that it’s someone looking for an affair on a dating site The Internet seems ecstatic about the Ashley Madison hack, with millions of adulterers' and potential adulterers' details hacked and released online, with articles outing individuals found in the data dump. Even if someone’s profile looks legit, there are other signs to keep an eye out for, especially during the beginning of your communication.

For example, scammers will often ask you to communicate with them outside of the dating site—via email, through Facebook, or even on Skype.

Here are six things to keep in mind to help you spot and avoid scammers on online dating sites.